US Navy boards sanctioned tanker

In a significant escalation of the naval blockade against Iran, U.S. commandos boarded the M/T Tifani, a tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil.

The Pentagon released dramatic footage of the overnight interdiction, which occurred in the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.

This marks the second such naval intervention in as many days as Washington seeks to disrupt Iran's shadow fleet and its primary source of revenue.

President Trump has stated that the blockade will not be lifted until a comprehensive peace deal is reached.

US interdicts stateless sanctioned tanker sailing from Iran to China Fox News — Apr 21, 17:14 PM
U.S. forces board a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon says CTV News — Apr 21, 16:20 PM
US troops board second tanker as Trump accuses Iran of violating ceasefire Daily Mail — Apr 21, 16:01 PM
Pentagon releases dramatic footage of moment US forces intercept sanctioned oil tanker NY Post — Apr 21, 15:24 PM
U.S. Military Stops and Boards M/T Tifani, Tanker Carrying Iranian Oil, Pentagon Says The New York Times — Apr 21, 14:32 PM
U.S. forces board an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil Fortune — Apr 21, 14:31 PM
US says it intercepted ‘stateless sanctioned’ oil vessel in Asia-Pacific, amid Iran crackdown The Straits Times — Apr 21, 14:31 PM
Pentagon: US forces board sanctioned oil tanker AP News — Apr 21, 12:24 PM
US forces board a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon says The Independent — Apr 21, 12:24 PM
US forces board sanctioned oil tanker in Indian Ocean AP News — Apr 21, 13:24 PM

M/T Tifani

Indian Ocean
Ocean bounded by Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica

United States Central Command
Theater-level Unified Combatant Command of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the broader Middle East

Iran
Country in Western Asia

Strait of Hormuz
Strait between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf